olfishead

Green Alumacraft with 115 Yama! Lots of boats Saturday, but plenty of fish.

Same results Sat evening!

The closest ramp is probably the Greenfield access on the Big Sac Arm (from Springfield take Hwy 160 west Through Willard, Ash Grove and Everton) Turn right on CC hiway about 6 Miles before you get to Greenfield. The access is about 3 miles on the left. Next closest would be the Aldrich access on the Little Sac Arm. Again west on 160 but take 126 to the right just west of Willard, go thru Walnut Grove, Eudora, past the Bait Masters Store and the ramp is on the left. Both are on the upper end on the lake and are not typically the best fishing areas at this time of year (except for catfish). (some may disagree with that analogy) Black bass, Crappie, White bass and walleye are the most popular and sought after, with catfish close behind. If you want catch walleye you probably need to head down lake and maybe go to Cedar ridge boat ramp (left on 215 at Bait masters, right on 245 at Bona, Left on RA 1 mile north of Bona). Fish the edges of the flats close to deep water this time of year. Trolling crankbaits 15 to 25 ft. deep or jigging light colored jigs tipped with a nightcrawler in those areas is probably your best bet. AND.... tune in often to this website to get more tips for fishing Stockton! But really, the fishing isn't any good on Stockton................Good luck!

Thanks S. Mallard for the advice! Any advice for thinning out that mass of whites is appreciated.

Put in at Mutton Creek Wednesday evening with the wife and son. Trolled flicker shads (forgot the night crawlers to use to bottom bounce) Caught a short walleye and a BIG drum - (5lbs. +) but the evening was saved by the surfacing white bass. Caught 20 nice ones in about 45 minutes, close to the shore. What fun! Rattle traps work well.

Beginning to think that if I did catch one it would definitely be an accident!

Dang.... From the title of this string, I thought I might learn some good fishing spots from oghfm. Especially since I went Friday evening and the same as got skunked.... a drum. Water, water everywhere and not a fish to bite! But, to lend my two cents, Ken's is really good, if, you have the time to BS about how bad the fishing is while you wait for your food!

The Freshwater version of a saltwater Redfish! (Red Drum)And, redfish are considered one of the good eating fish of the gulf. I agree with Dan keep all you can. They do compete with the other "more desirable" species.

I wouldn't think you would need to pay to launch a boat if you can't actually make it to the ramp! Or the courtesy dock...... or the restrooms ....... Like buying a jug of milk without the milk!

Only two explanations are possible: Trump and Climate change!

I went by the Roark Bluff ramp this morning and I'm pretty sure the corps has moved the courtesy dock into useable position. I know exactly what you mean about the alumacraft boat being hard to get in to from the bow/bank especially with the "extras" in the way. Every time my wife has to "go to the bank" I yearn for my ole bass tracker! Other than that, it's a great boat.

I remember seeing someone fishing from a boat at the west end of the field across the road from the Mutton Creek Center store (now a campground) on Y hwy. That WAS in the early 70s. Don't think you could float a boat there now.

So when was that record level? Maybe 1973 or 74?

Watch for floating fish! Typically on Pomme during high water and flooded vegetation is when we see dead fish bodies caused by poor water quality resulting in stress leading to bacterial infections. White bass are usually the first to go.

Nice! I tried the same thing on Thursday with very limited luck and talked to a few folks that were pretty bummed out with the bite.

Around Clear Creek islands is always good for carp. Also above 13 hwy on the deepwater arm.(put in off old 13 Hwy, west of new 13) Have at em!

There was an amazing amount of boats on the water Friday (26th). a boat or more in every little pocket or cove. Didn't see anyone slaying them and my boat didn't find many fish either. Did catch one 21.5 inch walleye and 13 keeper crappie but we had to really work at it. (8 hours of line wetting). I stayed away from the water Saturday but even with all the tournaments going on and wind I doubt that there were any more boats.

The crappie are still scattered and suspended down 10-18 ft. out in 20-30 ft. of water in middle of spawning coves. I have a feeling that they are doing most of the spawning at night and probably not very shallow due to the clear water nearly lake-wide. I'm hoping some heavy rain this week will add some color to the water but not increase the level much...……. wishful thinking!

Ditto the rocky points and banks. They seem to like rocks!

Had my doubts as soon as I saw the pic. Didn't even look like Stockton Lake crappie!

Either a brook silverside or a Mississippi silverside. Both occupy Stockton.

Also, with the general public sentiment that supports catch and release, there probably is not as much need for minimum length limits on LMB as there once was. And, there is the issue of mercury that bio-accumulates to higher concentrations in the larger fish (especially in some water bodies), which makes the smaller fish more healthy!

Ha Ha! MDC, mistakenly using the wrong picture (probably by their outreach folks, not biologists), caused all of this conversation about the differences between the black bass species. Smacks of a Trump tactic using the gullible media to increase public awareness! Really it's not hard to tell the outward difference between the species unless they are pulled from muddy water, then it is back to looking at those more definitive antatomical differences.

Yep, that's the quarry of Crabtree cove. Its not very deep like you'd expect a quarry to be. I have found very few walleyes (Mostly males) in that quarry during the spawn. Male walleyes, like other species, move up to the spawning areas before the females. Photoperiod (day length) seems to trigger movement to spawning areas and initial egg development however water temperatures determine when the final ripening of the eggs occur and subsequent release of eggs (spawning). Males are ready whenever the females need them during the spawning season. A cold spell or sudden drop of water temps can delay egg ripening up to 3 weeks usually during the month of march in S. Missouri. In the case of a late spring and cold water temps, the females will go ahead and spawn as a last resort even if temperatures are not optimal, or are capable of re-absorbing the eggs. Expect the majority of spawning to occur when temps are between 50 and 54 F. Walleyes have very little spawning success in Stockton Lake and a higher success rate in Pomme de Terre (but with lower stocking numbers in terms of #/acre). Good Luck and sharpen those hooks!

Hope You left some for the Spring spawn! When is the fish fry anyway?